Steve Morse to reunite with Bob Ezrin on forthcoming Deep Purple studio effort

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Over its most recent releases, Deep Purple has either worked with Michael Bradford or produced the project themselves. That looks to change with the group’s forthcoming 2012 release, which will apparently be helmed by the decidedly more high profile Bob Ezrin.

Deep Purple’s Steve Morse had previously confirmed that recording on the album, Deep Purple’s first since 2005, was set to begin this summer. Ezrin, who made his name working on projects with legends like Pink Floyd, Kiss, Peter Gabriel, Alice Cooper and others, was mentioned by Morse in an interview with Rock Hard, a French music magazine. Morse had previously worked with Ezrin on the 1988 In the Spirit of Things album with Kansas.

“Well, I think it’s now confirmed,” Morse says in the new report. “It’s Bob Ezrin who will produce the new Deep Purple album.”

Bradford produced both 2005’s Rapture Of The Deep, and 2003’s Bananas. 1998’s Abandon was handled by Deep Purple and longtime member Roger Glover; 1996’s brilliantly named Purpendicular was also a band project. Going further back, Deep Purple worked with Martin Birch on Stormbringer and Come Taste The Band, and Derek Lawrence helmed the group’s initial trio of recordings.

“There is one coming up,” Morse previously said. “The way we do it is that we record some ideas without vocals and then we present the ideas to (longtime lead vocalist and lyricist) Ian (Gillan). There is more writing sessions scheduled in May, and then we will start recording in June and July.”

Here’s a look back at our recent thoughts on Deep Purple. Click through the titles for complete reviews …

DEEP PURPLE – SHADES OF DEEP PURPLE (1968; 2011 REISSUE): Coming together in 1967, Deep Purple were like a lot of bands of the day, as their mission was to push the sonic envelope as far as possible and create something new and exciting. Based out of Hertford, England, the group achieved their goal straight away. Dramatic and bombastic, Deep Purple played a tumultuous blend of heavy metal and progressive rock before such labels arrived into being, tagging them pioneers of the genres.

ONE TRACK MIND: DEEP PURPLE’S ROGER GLOVER, “THE CAR WON’T START” (2011): A tune that couldn’t be further away from the dark organ-based groove of his band, “The Car Won’t Stop” finds Deep Purple’s Roger Glover indulging in a childhood passion for skiffle. There may not be a more surprising connection to be made between this homemade amalgam of roots influences and Glover, unless you know the history: This British folk-rock tangent influenced many of Glover’s generation, including the Beatles.

WHOCARES, FEATURING TONY IOMMI AND IAN GILLAN – OUT OF MY MIND (2011): Just the reunion of Iommi and Gillan would likely be enough for most heavy rock fans, but the rest of the band reads like a who’s who of the genre. Gillan’s former Deep Purple bandmate Jon Lord handles the keys for the project. Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain and ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted make up the rhythm section. Representing the younger generation is guitarist Mikko “Linde” Lindstrom of HIM, who, at 34, is 14 years the junior of Newsted, the next youngest member, and 35 years younger than oldest member, Lord, who is 69. But all that goes to show is age doesn’t really matter when it comes to good music, and “Out of My Mind” is really good.

FORGOTTEN SERIES: EPISODE SIX – THE ROOTS OF DEEP PURPLE: THE COMPLETE EPISODE SIX (1994): Formed in the summer of 1964, Episode Six quickly developed a star-studded reputation as a hotshot live band. The English group, which included lead singer Ian Gillian and bassist Roger Glover, who eventually gleaned even more accolades in Deep Purple, also cut a flock of brilliant singles that are featured on this set, along with a brace of previously unreleased material.

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